Method of molding concrete structures by means of collapsible tubular forms



Aprll 25, 1950 I M. OFLAHERTY 2,505,425

METHOD OF MOLDING CONCRETE s CTURES BY MEANS OF COLLAPSI TUBU FORMS I Filed Dec. 194a FIG. 8.

M 1M I mlm FIG.- 2

INVENTOR MIC HAEL OFLAHERTY F I ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25,; 1950 7 METHOD OF MOLDING CONCRETE STRUC- TURES BY MEANS OF COLLAPSIBLE TUBU- LAR FORMS Michael OFlaherty, Ontario, Calif.

Application December 18, 1948, Serial No. 66,011

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a method of providing forms for concrete structures, it being an object of the invention to provide a method of molding concrete structures utilizing a disposable form which may be manufactured in relatively long lengths of flexible tubing capable of being rolled up for convenient shipping, storing and handling.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of molding concrete structures utilizing a disposable concrete form so constructed that it may be carried to the job in long lengths and in rolled up form, and there cut into shorter lengths as used.

A further object is to provide a method of molding concrete structures utilizing a disposable concrete form of the character eferred to on which linear length indicia are displayed to enable a workman to readily cut the length into precise shorter individual lengths.

It is also an object to provide a novel method of providing forms for concrete structures.

Other objects and advantages 'will appear from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, for which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a relatively long length of tubing formed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section showing the device of Fig. 1 in flattened form;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of an individua1 form cut from the length of tubing of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of an indi vidual form filled with reinforced concrete mix;

Fig. 6 is a view of a length of form material shown in rolled up form;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a modified use of my invention; and

Fig. 8 is a. view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of a further modification.

It will be understood, of course, that within the purview of the accompanying claim I contemplate that my invention may be embodied in other modified specific forms.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in Fig. 1 a relatively long length 5 of flexible material, such as ordinary tarpaper or the like, formed into tubular form and having displayed lengthwise thereof along at least one side a plurality of indicia 6 indicating measurements in feet, inches and fractions of inches.

In forming the lengths 5 I use rectangular sheets of tarpaper, the side edges of the sheet being overlapped and cemented together as shown at l in Fig. 2. After thus beng formed into tubular shape, the length 5 is flattened, as shown in Fig. 3, and rolled up longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 6.

Thus, in use of the forms on the job, the workman, after using a transit, for instance, in determining that, for a given spot, a form of a given height or length from the foundation is desired, may conveniently cut an appropriate length from the roll 5 and thus provide an individual tubular form 8 of the desired length, place it against the foundation F and pour the Wet concrete mix into it. The ends of the form t; are open so that the mix may be poured in from the top end and it may bind to the foundation through the bottom end. After the mix sets and hardens in the form, the form may be torn therefrom and destroyed, being made of a very cheap and disposable material. I prefer to use tarpaper for the form because it is economical and retains the water in the mix during the hardening and setting stage.

It is, of course, possible to use my form for providing a reinforced concrete construction, such as shown in Fig. 5. Here I first embed the lower ends of metal re nforcing rods 9 in the foundation F and then apply the tubular form 8 thereover, after which the concrete mix M is poured into the form around the reinforcing rods.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my form is adaptable for structures of various sorts in add tion to forming upright posts or piers, as shown in Figs. 1-6. It may be used, for instance, to provide foundations or supports as shown in Fig. 1, by laying some of the preformed structures 8a horizontally and sandwiching therebetween crosswise disposed preformed structures 8b.

In Fig. 8 I show a further variational form in which. my invent on may be carried out. Here I mount the flexible tube or sleeve to in a wire mesh sheathing it made of such pliant wire mesh as chicken wire; the concrete mix M being poured in the tube 80. This form is highly useful for columns and posts which must be plastered, since the tarpaper sleeve prevents chemicals from seeping out into and discoloring the applied plaster. Sucn forms may be initially made in relatively long lengths such as shown in Fig. 1, and subsequently cut into individual forms of shorter length after being transported to the job in flattened and rolled up form.

I claim:

The method of providing forms for concrete structures comprising forming a relatively long length of material into tubular form, flattening the same, determining the height of desired individual'structures, sequentially cutting, from the relatively long length of flattened material, relatively shorter lengths corresponding with the 1| REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,050,258 Bemis Aug. 11, 1936 2,270,448 Juhl Jan. 20, 1942 2,296,352 Keller Sept. 22, 1942 

